Mr. Anderson was a REDI Administrative and Research Intern from the fall of 2010 to the spring of 2011. He now works at the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission.

• Jeff Anderson Resume (pdf)

Mr. Anderson is also a student at Fitchburg State University with a Major in Political Science and Minors in International Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies.

Since the beginning of his high school days, Jeff has always had a knack for activism and community work. Now, strong Political Science student in his final year, Jeff, as both a REDI Administrative Intern and a REDI-Leominster Housing Authority (LHA) Intern, is using his education and activism to address real regional economic development issues. During the Fitchburg State University Undergraduate Research Conference on April 22, 2011, Mr. Anderson presented his REDI-LHA Internship Project, based on his fall 2010 Senior Seminar Research in Political Science:

• REDI Anderson Undergrad Presentation Spring 2011 (pdf)

Jeff’s strong leadership and organizational skills have enhanced greatly throughout the duration of his time in University. During his first year, Jeff became involved with a non-profit organization called Students for Sensible Drug Policy, or SSDP.

Students for Sensible Drug Policy is an international grass roots network of students, encouraging young people to participate in the political process. Here, Jeff gained experience mobilizing students, organizing events, planning conferences, and lobbying congressional leaders, while networking along the way.

Jeff also began to work on the local level in the fall of 2010. Mr. Anderson sat on the board of a revitalization project with the LHA, Leominster Mayor, Dean Mazarella, the Directors of the Planning Board and Housing Authority, the Department of Public Works, and other City officials. The project involved the redevelopment of “Mechanic Street,” one of the major entry points to the town of Leominster:

• RED LHA Anderson Mechanic Street Project (pdf)

Through the start of this work, Jeff knew he wanted to turn his academic focus toward regional economic development, primarily in North Central Massachusetts.

As a REDI Administrative and Research Intern, Jeff used his strong organizational outreach and networking skills to coordinate and plan such efforts as the successful REDI regional Renaissance Night that brought together students to celebrate the development of the arts and culture of North Central Massachusetts.

Jeff is an artist and musician, which provided a “creative edge” to the REDI.